The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-01-06
NO. Al

ment is as far as law can carry the negro
The rest must be left to conscience and
common sense. 1t should be left to those
among whom his lot is cast, with whom he
is indissolubly connected and whose pros.
perity depends upon their possessing his
intelligent sympathy and confidence.
Faith has been kept with him in spite OF
calumnious assertions to the contrary, by
those who assume to speak for US or by
frank opponents. Faith will be kept with
him In the future. if the South holds her
reason and integrity. (Applause.)
THE SOUTH HAS KEPT FAITH WITH TIE
NORTH.
But have we kept faith with you? In the
fullest sense, yes. When Lee surrendered
Il don't say when johnson surrendered.
because understand he still alludes to
the time when he met General Sherman
last as the time when he determined to
abandon any further prosecution of the
strnggle"-when Lee surrendered. say.
and johnson quit, the South became, and
has been since, loyal to this Union. We
fought hard enough to know that we were
whipped and in perfect frankness accepted
as final the arbitrament of the sword to
which we had appealed. The South found
her jewel in tOad's head. , The shackles
that held her in narrow limitations fell
forever when the shackles of the negro
slave were broken, (Applause.) Under
the old regime the negroes were slaves to
the South, the South was slave to the
system. Thus was gathered in the hands
OF splendid and chiyalric oligarchy the
substance that should have been diffused
among the people, as the rich blood is
gathered at the heart, filling that with af-
fluent rapture but leaving the body chill
and colorless applause
The old South rested everything on
slavery and agriculture, unconscious that
these could neither give nor maintain
healthy growth. The new South presents
a perfect democracy, the oligarchs leading
into the popular movements social sys-
tenn compact and closely knitted, less
splendid ON the surface but stronger at
the core-a hundred farms for every plan
tation. fifty homes for every palace-and a
industry that meets the complex
needs of this complex age.
A PEOPLE EMANCIPATED BY DEFEAT.
The new South is enamored of her new
work. Her soul is stirred with the breath
Of new life. The light of grander day
is falling fair on her face. She is thrilling
sir. with the consciousness of growing
power and prosperity. AS she stands full
statured and equal among the people of
.he earth, breathing the keen air and look.
ing out upon an expanding horizon, she
understands that her emancipation came
because in the inscrutable wisdom of God
Ter honest purpose was crossed and her
brave armies were beaten. Applause.
This is said in no spirit of time serving
Ind apology. | should be unjust to the
South if did not make this plain in this
presence. The South has nothing to take
back nothing for which she has excuses
20 make. In my native town of Athens is
. monument that crowns it's eternal hills
"a Llain white shaft. Deep cut into its
shining sides is a name dear to me above
he names of men, that Of brave and
simple man who died in brave and sim
Die faith. Not for all the glories of New
England from Plymouth Rock ell the way
would l exchange the heritage he left me
IN his patriots death. To the foot of that
shaft shall send my children s children
10 reverence him who enno5led their name
With his heroic blood. But, sir, speaking
rom the shadow of that memory. which l
honor as I do nothing else on earth, say
that the cause in which he suffered and "
which he gave his life was adjudged by
higher and fuller wisdom than his or mine.
md l am glad that the omnscient God
held the balance of battle in His Almighty
land and that the American Union was
saved from the wreck of war Loud APP
,lause.
This message, Mr.. President. comes to
you from consecrated ground. Every foot
Of the soil about the city in which live is
.acred as a battle ground of the Republic.
Every hill that invests it is hallowed to
Or your victory and doubly halowed to us
y the blood of those who died hopeless,
nut undaunted in defeat-sacred soil to all
If us-rich with memories that make us
Jurer and stronger and better-silent but
stanch witnesses in its rich desolation of
,he matchess yalor of American hearts
Ind the deathless glory of American arms
and eloquent witnesses in its
white peace and prosperity to the indisso-
uble Union of American States and the
brotherhood Of the American
people. Immense cherring.]
What answer has New England to this
Will she permit the prejudice
Of war to remain in the hearts of the con-
luerors, when it has died in the learts of
,he conquered? Will she transmit this
prejudice to the next generation, that in
hearts which never felt the generous ardor
1f conflict it may perpetuate itself VIII
she withhold, save in strained courtesy,
The hand which straight from his soldiers
heart Grant offered to Lee at Appomat
Lox? Will she make the vision of a re
stored and happy people, which gathered
above the couch of your dying captain,
filling his heart with peace, touching his
lips with praise and clarifying his path to
the grave-will she make this vision ON
which the last sigh of his expiring soul
breaChed a benediction, cheat or delu-
sion ? If she does, the South, never .abject
in asking for comradeship, must accept
with dignity it's refusal. But il she does
not refuse to accept in frankness and SIN
certify this message of good will and friend
ship, then will the prophecy of Webster
delivered to this very society forty years
ago amid tremendous applause be verified
to its fullest and final sense, when he said
STANDING hand to hand and clasping
hands, we should remain united as we
have been for sixty years, citizens of the
same country, members of the same Gov
ernment, united, all united now and united
forever. There have been difficulties, con-
tentions and controversies, but L tell you
that in my judgment"
Those opposed eyes,
Which, like the meteors Of a troubled heaven,
All of one nature, of one substance bred.
Did lately meet in til intestine shock.
Shall now. In mutual well -beseeIn Ing ranks,